Broad resistance due to plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli

Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Jul 15;35(2):140-5. doi: 10.1086/340742. Epub 2002 Jun 24.

Abstract

Escherichia coli that produce plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases are rare in the United States. The clinical features associated with infection with these organisms have not been well described. We identified 2 clinical isolates of E. coli that produced the plasmid-mediated AmpC enzyme beta-lactamase CMY-2. These organisms were recovered from urine specimens and were resistant to ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, and cefepime. One isolate was resistant to ertapenem but susceptible to imipenem and meropenem; the other was susceptible to imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem. One of the 2 infected patients did not require specific therapy; the other required imipenem for cure. The presence of the CMY-2 beta-lactamase was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Hybridization studies confirmed that the bla(CMY-2) gene was on a plasmid in both isolates; in one of them, the probe also hybridized with chromosomal DNA. Infection with plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases in E. coli in the United States may be associated with treatment failure, and these strains may become a serious nosocomial threat.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cephalosporin Resistance / genetics
  • Conjugation, Genetic / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
  • Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / analysis
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / immunology
  • Female
  • Gene Amplification
  • Humans
  • Imipenem / metabolism
  • Imipenem / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Plasmids / genetics*
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • beta-Lactam Resistance / genetics*
  • beta-Lactamases / analysis
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics*
  • beta-Lactamases / immunology
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Imipenem
  • beta-lactamase CMY-2
  • AmpC beta-lactamases
  • beta-Lactamases